Photos: Nepal Art Council
Featuring contemporary and modern artworks since the 1950s with the development of the higher education sector in Fine Arts, Nepal has taken a leap in the art sector. A number of galleries established and art exhibitions hosted around the city is its evidence. Moreover, today Nepal is not only known for traditional art. There are continuous developments taking place to boost the existence of contemporary and modern art in the international arena as well. The recent ‘Nepal Art Now’ exhibition that kicked off on April 11, 2019, at The Weltmuseum Wien, Vienna is one such boost for Nepali artists.
Though Nepali artists are visiting and showcasing their artworks abroad, they have been doing it at an individual level or in small groups. However, this is the first exhibition abroad that comprise of a large body of artworks solely created by Nepali contemporary artists. That includes the artwork of around 50 artists, featuring works of Late veteran artists/ scholars Lain Singh Bangdel, Manuj Babu Mishra, Siddhi Muni Shakya along with Pramila Giri, Lok Chitrakar, Chandra Dangol, Hit Man Gurung, Kabi Raj Lama, Mekh Limbu, Kiran Manandhar, Sheelasha Rajbhandari, Ashmina Ranjit, Ajit Kumar Sah, Seema Sharma Shah, Shashi Bikram Shah, Uma Shankar Shah and many more.
The exhibition is garnered with original artworks by the premier artists dating from the 1950s, the senior and the young emerging artists of today. Some of the artworks are commissioned especially for this exhibition and others are borrowed from collectors and the artists directly. The artworks are embedded in the culture and traditions of Nepal but also discuss and explore current international issues and social concerns — giving them a global dimension. This has definitely complimented and enriched the collection in the exhibition. While talking about themes that can be seen in the exhibition, the artworks deal with topics such as earthquake, women’s rights, religion, socio-political context, etc where almost all the artworks are rooted in the culture and traditions of Nepal.
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The exhibition aims at bridging the gap between Nepali artists and European audience. The exhibition is organized in cooperation with Nepal Art Council and curated by the late Dina Bangdel (who was honored in the speeches for her groundbreaking work), Swosti Kayastha Rajbhandari, Dr Christian Schicklgruber, and Claire Burkert. The exhibition will continue until 6 November 2019.
